A tobacco rod having reduced levels of at least one phenolic compound
precursor selected from the group consisting of gentisic acid,
3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, scopoletin, quinic
acid, a quinic acid derivative, caffeic acid, inositol and lignin. The
concentration in mainstream smoke of phenolic compounds such as phenol,
hydroquinones (e.g., hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone and 2,3-dimethyl
hydroquinone), catechols (e.g., p-coumaryl quinic acid, feruloyl quinic
acid and syringoyl quinic acid) and cresols (e.g., o-cresol, m-cresol and
p-cresol) can be reduced by reducing the concentration in uncured (e.g.,
green) or cured tobacco of the phenolic compound precursors. The
concentration of phenolic compound precursors in tobacco can be reduced
by forming an extract of tobacco solubles, removing phenolic compound
precursors from the extract by treating the extract with
polyvinylpolypyrrolidone or polyvinylimidazole in the absence of an
enzyme to form a treated extract; and restoring the treated extract to
the tobacco.